Steven Spielberg quits as adviser to Olympics over Darfur

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Oscar-winning film
director Steven Spielberg withdrew on Tuesday as an artistic
adviser to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing over China's
policy on the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.

"I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue
business as usual," Spielberg said in a statement issued on a
day when Nobel Peace laureates sent a letter to China's
president urging a change in policies toward its ally Sudan.

"At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on
Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end
to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be
committed in Darfur," he added.

China is a leading oil customer and supplier of weapons to
Sudan and is accused by critics of providing diplomatic cover
for Khartoum as it stonewalls international efforts to send
peacekeepers into Darfur.

In April, Spielberg wrote a letter to Chinese President Hu
Jintao adding his voice to the chorus of people who have
protested China's involvement with the Sudanese government over
the crisis in Darfur. At that time, Spielberg had asked to meet
with Hu, but the president failed to respond.

In his statement on Tuesday, Spielberg said Sudan's
government shouldered the bulk of responsibility for "these
ongoing crimes" in Darfur but said China "should be doing more
to end the continuing human suffering there."

"As the primary economic, military and political partner of
the Government of Sudan, and as a permanent member of the
United Nations Security Council, China has both the opportunity
and the responsibility to contribute to a just peace in
Darfur," said the letter.
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